Liverpool manager Arne Slot insists that Trent Alexander-Arnold is fully committed to his recovery from injury despite reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid.
BBC Sport understands that the 26-year-old right-back, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is in advanced negotiations over a free transfer to the Spanish giants.
Alexander-Arnold has been sidelined since March after sustaining an ankle injury during Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, ruling him out of England’s recent World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Slot, however, maintains that the defender’s primary focus is regaining fitness.
“Unfortunately, he is injured. Otherwise, people would probably be talking about his brilliant performances for England,” Slot said. “But right now, his only concern is recovery, and we are doing everything to help him return as soon as possible.”
Alexander-Arnold is one of three key Liverpool players nearing the end of their contracts, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk and forward Mohamed Salah.
Salah admitted in January that a new deal with the club remained “far away,” while Van Dijk stated in March that he had “no idea” whether he would extend his stay.
“This situation has been ongoing for eight or nine months,” Slot said. “Yet these three players have continued to perform at the highest level, so it doesn’t affect me at all.”
Liverpool, currently 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League with nine games remaining, host Everton at Anfield on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
